Life & Work with Justine Cyplik of Echo Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Justine Cyplik.

Hi Justine, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
There’s a memory that really sticks out in my mind as *the* sort of starting moment, where I found myself fascinated by the process of making and creating: I was little, watching Pixar’s ‘Monsters, Inc.’––we had it on VHS at home, and it included all these behind-the-scenes bonus features that showcased the film’s production process. At the time, CG feature-length animation was still so new and felt like such a spectacle, and seeing all the pieces of the film come together that way felt so magical to me, even then. I’ve always liked the art of the process; of doing and learning *how* to do things.

I ended up going to art school in Oregon to study and specialize in animation, only to realize I didn’t really *love* the process of actually animating. What I *did* love was the research and development that goes into creating a film, animated or not; I liked designing props, locations, characters, and was more interested in fleshing out the world they’d come to inhabit.

This past January, I moved out to LA, and it felt like I was finally ready to take myself more seriously as an artist and filmmaker. Over the past nine months or so, I’ve really had to trust the process, which has meant a lot of personal, emotional ups and downs––but I’ve also had the chance to work on so many incredible projects. It’s amazing to be surrounded by so many creative people who are earnest and incredibly passionate about their work and have let me into their spaces, projects, and communities.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think both yes and no, in a way. It’s felt so natural to find and connect with people who are as passionate about filmmaking as I am, especially in a place like LA. There are absolutely people out here who want to support you and your professional/creative journey and see you succeed, especially if you’re open-minded, listen, and want to put in the work.

But at the same time, there are those ups and downs, ebbs and flows. I constantly have this self-doubt, wondering if I really belong in some of these spaces, if I’m doing anything “real” or “productive” with myself and my work. Whether what I create is good enough to stand on its own or be taken seriously, and of course, the fact that I’m still very much starting out and trying to establish myself in a new city, in an industry that’s famously hard to break into.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
On set, I’m typically working in an art department role: set decorator, art director, or production designer. I love creating environments that feel lived in, warm, and naturalistic. I’d love the opportunity to challenge myself and eventually PD something fantastical, or even period-related, but it takes a lot to make a real-life space *feel* real on screen, and I love being someone who can make that happen. I’m currently in the midst of gearing up to direct my first short, ‘St. Agnes’ Lamb’, and it occupies that same kind of natural space, which I’m super excited to dig more into.

At this point, I’m proud of every project I’ve had the chance to work on, whether it’s a student film set, a music video, or a proof of concept. I’m still early in my career, so the chance to showcase my work or lend my skills in any capacity feels incredible. I’m always open to learning something new, and I love bringing my process and perspective to the table.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I’d always been a creative kid! My mom always encouraged that part of me; I have a lot of memories of us painting and drawing together when I was younger.

As I got older, I think the internet also fueled a lot of my creative instincts; I loved watching YouTube and really wanted to be someone who could just post videos of myself for a living. It feels silly to say, but I was also really into AMVs and those kinds of “fandom edits” as a teenager, too––I taught myself After Effects and Premiere because I simply wanted to make the same sort of things other people were making. It’s illuminating, at times, to connect the dots, looking at what I enjoyed as a kid and how those things often come back up even nowadays, in my work––I was talking to someone recently about how much I loved playing ‘The Sims’ when I was younger, and how much I enjoyed creating these sorts of characters and their houses and worlds; it made me realize that even back then I was assuming the role of a director or designer, in a way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.justinecyplik.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/platycdn/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcyplik/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/stagnesmovie/

Image Credits
Noah Cyplik, Ray Zhang, Gavin Richards, David Milan Kelly, Lauren Owen